lay sister

a woman who has taken religious vows and habit but is employed in her order chiefly in manual labor.

Origin of lay sister

First recorded in 1700–10

In an hour, a lay-sister will come here, I will speak a few words apart to her, and she will tell you to follow her.

The Memoires of Casanova, Complete |Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Do not weep so, dear sister, and tell me how you expect to be delivered here without the lay-sister being aware of it?

The Memoires of Casanova, Complete |Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Full of grace and beauty, M—— M—— came into the room with a lay-sister, each of them holding a candlestick.

The Memoires of Casanova, Complete |Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
With the assistance of the lay-sister, Beatrice effected her escape from the building, and joined me outside the walls.

Yule Logs |Various

The lay-sister retired as noiselessly as she had come, and Mother Gertrude closed her book.

Consequences |E. M. Delafield

lay sister

a woman who has taken the vows of a religious order but is not ordained and not bound to divine office